Polygamy is practised among the Himba, and Komané may have sexual relations with whoever she wants, provided she asks her husband for permission. But it is important for a woman to be the first wife, as this confers certain privileges, such as the care of the sacred fire, which give her a more dignified status. In Himba culture, image and appearance are all-important.
Almost their only art is the decoration of their own bodies. They have no paintings or sculptures, but they do spend a considerable amount of time enhancing their appearance. Their hairstyle not only fulfils an aesthetic function, enhancing the elongated shape of the head, but also serves to express their sex and social position. An adult woman will keep this hairstyle until she dies. From time to time, the braids are undone, and then plaited again. This generally takes about two days, and they wash it not with water, but with ash. But the truly distinctive feature of these people is the reddish colour of their bodies. This comes from a dye which the women regularly apply to their bodies. It is made by crushing very valuable stones, which contain a ferrous component they call Okid Maui. The women only take a bath once in their lives, before getting married.
